Can Cows Eat Watermelon?

As animal caretakers, we want to ensure that our animals never go hungry, and that they eat nutritious and healthy food. Here are a few things to consider when asking the question: “Can Cows Eat Watermelon?”

As known herbivores, Can Cows Eat Watermelon?

Yes, Definitely. Cows can have watermelon as part of their diet. Though the main cattle diet should still be composed of grass and hay (and similar plant life), Watermelon is a welcome addition to a cow’s food source. This is non-toxic to cows, and they can metabolize its contents (which is mostly water), cattle raisers should still be wary of drastically altering a cow’s diet for that can lead to further complications such as gastrointestinal and digestive issues. While trying to limit the quantity of the food source, cattle can actually consume all parts of the watermelon: rind, seeds, and meat.

What are Watermelons?

Watermelons (Citrullus lanatus) are actually big round berries which are the edible fruit of a flowering plant. Produced on scrambling vines, Watermelon is cultivated worldwide, particularly in tropic and temperate regions. With various species, watermelon fruits have different colors, forms (round or elongated), and content (with-seed vs seedless)

Nutritional Value of Watermelon for Cows

Watermelon offers some nutrition for your cow, and their nutritional breakdown for approximately 1 cup of watermelon fruit  is as follows:

Protein	1 g
Fat	0.2 g
Carbohydrate	11.6 g
Calories	46 cal
Cholesterol	0
Fiber	0.6 g

Benefits of Eating Watermelon for Cows

1. Watermelons are excellent for hydration – Because these big berries are made up of 91% water, these help cows stay hydrated especially during the summer months when temperatures start to climb.

2. Watermelons are packed with antioxidants – The compounds present in watermelon juice help to eliminate and fight off free radicals, which, when unchecked, lead to further complications such as cancer and heart disease.

3. They boost exercise and physical performance – There is a lot of stored energy in watermelon because of its high sugar and carbohydrate content. This gives your bovine besties a big boost for both work and play. 

4. Watermelons contain Potassium and Magnesium – with both these minerals present, cows’ bone health and integrity are improved, protecting against disorders such as osteoporosis. These also help to lower yOur cow’s blood pressure, manage and prevent arthritis, and prevent the build-up of kidney stones.

5. They promote better heart health – just like Tomatos, watermelons also contain lycopene, which not only fight off free radicals, but also lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke by almost 20%. This also helps to prevent blood clots by improving the flexibility and integrity of their arteries.

6. Watermelons help with proper weight maintenance – By promoting physical activity and proper hydration, watermelon meat and juice can help to maintain proper weight, and even assist with weight loss. 

7. They improve milk production – Dairy cows will have the benefit of improved milk quality and production with minerals such as Potassium, which also help with reproductive function and boost the immune system of the bovine beasts.

The Danger of Cows Eating Watermelon

Aside from the danger of bloat when overfed with watermelons, cows can also be at risk for sugar-related conditions such as Diabetes and Arthritis. It is always best to keep things in moderation when feeding cows, because too much of something good will always lead to something bad for them.

In Summary : Watermelons can supplement Cows’ Diet

They will definitely benefit from the good things that watermelon pulp and juice can bring to the table, but as always, too much of something will lead to a chaotic gut problem for these big Bessies. Also, altering their regular chow of hay and grass will make their gut culture and content go haywire. For cows, it’s always best to stick to the basics and just supplement with new introductions to their food regimen.